0:00
Hi, I'm Jane Howdyshell and I've been nominated in the category of Best Featured Actress in a Musical
0:14
Here we are sitting, it's Tony Day, I'm sitting with you, I'm so happy to be sitting with you. How do you feel today
0:22
It's amazing, it's just amazing. The whole journey returning to Broadway has been amazing and the fact that we've made it to another Tony season is nothing short of a miracle, so I'm grateful, really grateful
0:36
I was talking to your guest stars, everyone's been on this incredible journey, normally you cast a show, you rehearse a show, you preview, you open and you run
0:44
Right. Everyone's had these like starts and stops and all of this stuff, has it all been surreal
0:50
Yes, in a word, yes, it's been totally surreal and there are challenges in that, you know, but I have to say a special Tony award should be gifted to every single swing, understudy, cover and standby
1:11
Because they're the people who keep us running when we hit those glitches and people have to go out and quarantine for a while and I know it's true in our show and I've heard that it's true in every single cast on Broadway
1:28
The people who are covering us are so ready, so on it, so good and I don't think audiences even notice that, you know, that's how seamless the transition is and it's an extraordinary experience, really
1:46
What's given you the most joy with working on The Music Man
1:51
Well, there are a lot of things. It's a phenomenal cast, but what is the greatest joy are the young people in the cast
2:02
Those kids are amazing, their work ethic is impeccable, number one, but it's done out of complete joy, there's no drudgery in it for them, they have indomitable energy, endless, boundless energy
2:17
And they're totally inspiring to us adults, they hold the bar high for us and so it's been a lot of fun working with them
2:26
Your show brings so much joy to so many theatre goers, it must make you feel so great to hear the laughter and the applause up there eight times a week
2:35
Totally, totally, it's a gift, it's a gift to know that we're making that many people happy
2:41
Finally, you have an impeccable cast sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, what is that like
2:48
It's amazing, they're the most generous performers and for me they both are the true definition of stardom in that they radiate this inner light and they share it with everyone around them
3:01
It's not just held back for them, it's there for all the people on stage, we all are better because of them and because of that energy that we receive from them and I think the audience knows that
